H.R. 9603 — Less Bureaucracy, Better International Education Oversight Act

This section transfers to the Secretary of State all functions previously exercised by the Secretary of Education under title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.) and the Fulbright-Hays program (22 U.S.C. 2452(b)(6)). It repeals the Institute for International Public Policy.

This section authorizes the Secretary of State to exercise all authorities previously available to the Secretary of Education for performing a transferred function, effective immediately before the transfer date.

This section transfers to the Secretary of State the personnel, assets, liabilities, contracts, property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations connected to functions transferred under the Act. Unexpended funds may be used only for their originally authorized purposes.

This section directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to ensure the Act produces no net increase in full-time equivalent employees at affected Federal agencies, measured against staffing levels on the date of enactment. It authorizes the Director to determine which functions transfer and to make incidental dispositions of personnel, assets, liabilities, contracts, property, and unexpended balances, and requires the Director to certify compliance with these requirements to the House Committee on Education and Workforce and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on the effective date.

This section authorizes the Secretary of State to delegate functions transferred under the Act to designated officers and employees of the Department of State and to permit successive redelegations, while retaining responsibility for administration of those functions.

This section deems references in any Federal law, Executive order, rule, regulation, delegation of authority, or related document to the Secretary of Education or the Department of Education to refer instead to the Secretary of State or the Department of State, for functions transferred under section 2.

This section continues in effect all orders, determinations, rules, regulations, permits, grants, contracts, licenses, and other legal documents issued before the transfer of functions from the Department of Education to the Department of State. It requires pending proceedings, applications, and suits to continue without interruption or abatement, with the Secretary of State substituted as the party in relevant litigation, and applies existing administrative and judicial review procedures to the transferred functions.

This section authorizes the Secretary of State to use Department of Education personnel, assets, and appropriated funds beginning on the date of enactment for the period reasonably needed to implement the Act in an orderly manner.

This section delays the effective date of the Act until 6 months after the date of enactment, except as provided in section 9. It permits transfers of functions under section 2 or other provisions to begin on the date of enactment.